Classified School Employees Week A “Virtual” Success
Each year during the third week of May, CSEA celebrates the instructional, administrative, and technical support classified professionals provide Mt. SAC to help the college fulfill its mission while also fulfilling the CSEA mission of improving the lives of our members, students, and community.
Each year your Chapter 262 collaborates with the Management Team, the Classified Senate, and our sister Chapter 651 to provide fun, food, and festivities that celebrate, honor, and recognize all classified professionals from CSEA 262 and 651 and confidential classified professionals. It is a week of good fun, great food, and, for a few minutes each day, enjoying the old college spirit.
This year was not a typical year for reasons you are all aware. We may not have been able to be on campus to enjoy the week together, but we have not lost that old college spirit. We were able to participate in several virtual activities sponsored by CSEA Area G Director Ivan Pastrano.
“Last week during our Area G CSEW Celebration, we had over 500 Winners” Pastrano posted on the Area G Facebook page. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten about you. It’s just going to take me a little time to reach everyone.” Pastrano also wants all you to know “We are going to continue to have fun and positive activities, as well as informative content for our members! Let’s keep building!”
While CSEW events at Mt. SAC were limited, we did still have two virtual activities and awarded 20 gift cards to members! Both the “Scavenger Hunt” and “Word Search” activities received more than 250 combined participants. We intended to announce the winners in this issue, but we are still scoring all the submissions. As our Area G Director says, we haven’t forgotten you. It is just going to take a while to get back to you. An announcement should be coming next week.
*And stay tuned for announcements about activities after we return to work! We plan to have that BBQ lunch even if we are in the middle of the Zombie Apocalypse!
Schools to Reopen in July Means . . . What?
Governor Newsom recently announced schools could reopen as early as July. Many members have asked about whether Mt. SAC will reopen as well. For now, the campus will remain closed to students, visitors, the community, and employees with the exception of the few “essential” workers who come to campus as directed by their managers to maintain essential services.
The Governor’s announcement was in reference to summer programming geared for younger, K–12 students who are experiencing learning loss and whose parents need childcare support as they begin to return to work. However, this may also impact classified members at Mt. SAC whose children are not yet going back to school.
CSEA Association President Ben Valdepeña reminded members, “Regardless of when or how the students return to school, the state must have a comprehensive plan in place to protect the health and safety of the students and the staff.” He said, “This would include implementing physical distancing in all areas.” Mt. SAC President Bill Scroggins has assembled a task force to study relevant information and guidelines from both the Chancellor’s Office and LA County Health Department to develop a strategic plan to return campus employees back to work and students and faculty back to the classrooms — safely.
Both Mt. SAC and your Chapter Leadership will continue to make our members’ health and safety a top priority. We are collaborating with the District and have representation on the task force to ensure not only a safe return but that the health and safety and rights of the members we represent are protected and ensured. We will continue to advocate for all measures necessary to protect our members, our students, and our community.
About That Task Force . . .
If you have been following Mt. SAC President Scroggins’ Cabinet Notes and Board Notes, you have read about Mt. SAC making plans to return to work. In a memo from his office, Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley asked college leaders to evaluate options, steps, and precautions to reopen campuses. Several key issues would need to be addressed, including:
A framework of when to begin to open college campuses
Recommendations for best practices for instruction in a social distancing environment
Recommendations for best practices for supporting classified professionals and faculty
Recommendations for best practices that would support recovery of our communities and state
This memo establishes a state-level task force, and CSEA Chapter 262 past president and current member of the California Community College Board of Governors Bill Rawlings has been appointed to this task force representing classified professionals across the state.
In response to this, Mt. SAC President Bill Scroggins has also established a Task Force to similarly develop best practices and plans for re-opening Mt. SAC. Chapter 262 2nd Vice President Marlene Espina is representing Chapter 262 on this task force.
This Task Force is charged with the immense task of anticipating the safety, logistics, contact tracing, and number of classes and students on campus using the guidelines from the State and LA County Health Departments as well as guidelines from the Chancellor’s Office. The Task Force will study many issues, including:
College Processes and Data for re-opening the campus
Protecting and Supporting Worker/Student Health & Safety
Ensuring Appropriate Distancing
Ensuring Equitable Services and Student Access
Infection Control, Tracking, and Testing Procedures
Communication with the Public
Espina will participate on the Task Force to help the college plan for a safe return to “business as usual” as well as representing the health, safety, and rights of classified professionals. You will hear more as more information is available. Remember that a return to work will not occur immediately where one day we are all suddenly back on campus. It will be a measured, well planned, and strategic return to ensure classes can continue, everyone’s safety is as ensured as humanly possible, and that we all get back to the business of educating California’s workforce and future leaders.
Welcome to Mt. SAC: New Classified Professionals
At the May 13 Board of Trustees meeting, the college welcomed the following new or promoted classified employees:
Permanent New Hires
Austin Byrd, Accompanist, (Arts)
Lisa Foster, Veterans Services Specialist (Financial Aid)
Kaylynn Lare, Student Services Program Specialist II (Counseling)
Jenny Yung, Laboratory Technician — Food and Service (Culinary Arts)
Promotions
Graciela Espinoza, Fiscal Specialist (Fiscal Services)
Guadalupe Medina-Nunez, Coordinator, Project/Program (Child Development Center)
During our current telecommuting period, send an e-mail and welcome them to Mt. SAC. Extend a warm welcome, invite them to a Zoom lunch or to lunch when we all return, and, if they work in your area or near you, make them feel welcome. Invite them to and encourage them to attend the next “virtual” Chapter meeting so they can introduce themselves.
Senior Chapter Steward Refresher
Every year the Santa Fe Filed Office (SFFO is our Chapter’s Field Office) provides steward training for any member who wants to become a steward, learn what a steward does, or just wants to learn more about employee rights.
Next month the SFFO is going to offer the Union Steward Training Level 4 Refresher training for jacketed or experienced stewards. You must have completed Level 1, 2, and 3 training to register for this class. Because of our current circumstances, this refresher training will be conducted via Zoom.
Union Steward Training Level 4 Refresher
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
4:00 p.m. via Zoom
Because this may be the first-time for some participants to be using Zoom, CSEA will allocate time in the beginning for a brief overview to familiarize everyone with the basic tools of Zoom and to learn some best practices when participating in meetings.
To register for this training, follow the link below:
https://csea.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUoduCvqT4rG9GY8Q8wHmsgN4PrczpjoYcF
Once you have registered for the Union Steward Training Level 4, a confirmation email will be provided with the Zoom meeting link to join.
Your CSEA Chapter 262 Executive Board:
Robert Stubbe, President • Rosa Asencio, 1st Vice President • Marlene Espina, 2nd Vice PresidentBarbara Carrillo, Secretary • Zak Gallegos, Treasurer
Elizabeth Jauregui, Chief Union Steward • Mark Fernandez, Communications Officer
Brandon Gillett, Site Rep Coordinator • Sandra Bollier, Past President
“To improve the lives of our members, students, and community.”
CSEA Chapter 262 • 1100 N. Grand Avenue Walnut, California 91789 • 909.274.6262 • www.csea262.org